"Anna and the mountains" Switzerland by dutch_anna

Switzerland Travel Guide: 18,077 reviews and 42,101 photos

I always will have a soft spot for Switzerland, for it was the first "foreign country" I really visited for a vacation. I was 16 then and used to a flat country. So with a bus through Belgium and France was a sensation yet. No highways in those days, no"autoroute du soleil", but through small villages. Everything was very different from my homeland.
And the next day I saw something I will never forget. We stayed the night in Basel, in Hotel Hecht, and in the early morning my mother, with whom I shared the room, woke me up, saying there was a great view from the bathroom window at the other side of the corridor. I remember the view on a fast-flowing river, the Rhine, and across the river beautiful houses and towers in the sunshine.The sound of the water, the sight of the river, how wonderful. We didn't see more of Basel, that day, but it was enough to be remembered.
We drove to Lucerne and there was a new sensation. What a city, so clean, so in quiet harmony with the lake. The swans in the lake, the ferries, the people walking up and down along the water.
Our hotel was in a small village in the Berner Oberland, Lungern, on the Lake of Lungern. And there, waking up the next morning, I felt uncomfortable. It was as if someone was standing outside, before the window. Something. Green and dark. Those were the mountains, surrounding the village, very nearby. No horizon, but silent dark green high mountains. At one side you could see over the lake to the north.
But it took a day or two till I was used to those dark green watchmen.

Last visit to Switzerland: Sep 2002
Intro Updated May 15, 2003
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Reviews (9)

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Favorites (3)
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Transportation (1)
Airplane, train, car,...

Travelogues (1)

Written Jan 12, 2006

22 photos

die Schweiz, la Suisse, la Svizzera.

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Comments (24)

Leipzig Nov 23, 2003 at 7:01 AM Report Abuse

Very beautiful photos. This country is very high on my must- visit list
littlesam1 Mar 19, 2003 at 10:28 AM Report Abuse

Beautiful pictures. I am planning a trip to Switzerland this August.
truus_s Feb 5, 2003 at 2:15 PM Report Abuse

Ik krijg zo weer heimwee wanneer ik dit zie!!
Tripack Jul 24, 2002 at 1:25 PM Report Abuse

Great comments and pics of my little Valais ;-)
feline01 Jul 17, 2002 at 11:48 AM Report Abuse

Amazing pics, so beautiful, looks almost fake.
sandysmith Jul 17, 2002 at 11:03 AM Report Abuse

beautiful t`log, love the 3 passes
RachelMcD May 18, 2002 at 1:21 PM Report Abuse

Wonderful travelogues.
yen_2 May 4, 2002 at 5:46 AM Report Abuse

Excellent...like your photo`s!
millward Mar 3, 2002 at 1:52 PM Report Abuse

great...love the photos
brdwtchr Feb 12, 2002 at 2:32 PM Report Abuse

Great pictures. Who does like hair pin turns?